Slippery sliders skipping shoe

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an athletic shoe sole which facilitates sliding the foot along the surface of the ground. The shoe is designed for skipping on wood, metal, marble, or concrete, which represent materials commonly used in the construction of floors found in gymnasiums and athletic facilities. The improved sole contains a permanently attached insert covering the area distally from the arch of the foot to the toes lying generally beneath the ball of the foot. The low traction insert is of UHMW or alternatively of a thermoplastic nylon construction which enables the wearer to slide the feet along the floor in a fluid forward motion when skipping. The insert is permanently affixed to the sole of the shoe within a pocket formed in the out-sole of the shoe. Application of an aerosol silicone lubricant and release agent on the insert portion of the out-sole before use further decreases the friction between the out-sole and the ground surface, thereby enhancing the sliding capabilities of the shoe.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to an athletic shoe sole,and more specifically to a shoe sole construction wherein a materialwith a low coefficient of friction is built into the sole at the ball ofthe foot to facilitate the sliding action of the foot when skipping.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background

[0004] Skipping is an activity which combines a stepping and a hoppingmotion to achieve forward locomotion. A person begins the skipping stepby standing upright with your arms at your sides for balance. A forwardstep is taken with one foot, while the other foot pushes-off. The footused to push-off rises off the ground and forces the body in an upwardand forward direction, thereby producing the hopping motion. The forwardfoot, which initiated the stepping motion, is caused to slide along theground in a forward direction. The foot used to push-off transitions tothe forward stepping foot, returning to the ground in front of the body.The sliding foot transitions to the pushing-off foot, and the entiremotion is repeated to continue in a forward direction.

[0005] An essential component of skipping is the ability of the foot incontact with the ground to slide along the surface of the ground as areaction to the pushing-off action of the opposite foot. The slidingmotion occurs at the ball of the foot posterior to the toes and anteriorto the heel and arch of the foot. To facilitate this sliding motion, itwould be greatly advantageous while skipping to wear a shoe with anout-sole at the ball of the foot comprised of a material having a lowcoefficient of friction.

[0006] Modification of the out-sole of athletic footwear is well knownwithin the background art as a method of improving performance. Wearercomfort, cushioning, support, torsion control, traction, andflexibility, have each been addressed by modification of the out-sole ofthe shoe.

[0007] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,948 to Ellis shows an athleticshoe sole comprising a lateral stability sipe whereby improved lateralsupport is provided to the foot.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,615 to Day teaches an athletic shoe solehaving a slidably engaged platform defining a plurality of ports forreceiving a corresponding plurality of cleats, thereby improvingtraction and performance of the shoe.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,762 to Walters discloses an athletic shoesole wherein a composite sole is provided with air cylinders whichprovide greater cushioning during the weighting of the foot by awearer's walking or running.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,649 to Saurwein shows an athletic shoeassembly with heel and toe section flange shaped turf-gripping membersfor increased traction on artificial turf.

[0011] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,597 to Thomasson teaches an athleticshoe sole with a twist-flex portion below the ball of the user's foot tofacilitate torsion of the shoes in specific areas of the sole andstiffening in other areas.

[0012] However, although a plethora of athletic shoe sole designs exist,none of the above prior art references, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.Absent from the background art is a design which incorporates an insertwith a low coefficient of friction at the ball of the foot to promotethe sliding of the feet over wood, metal, marble, or concrete surfaces.On the contrary, most sole constructions which make-up the backgroundart are designed for exactly the opposite function, namely: improvedtraction and slip resistance. All cleated and spiked soles within thebackground art, for example, fall within this group.

[0013] The prior art does, however, reveal one activity which calls fora shoe designed to facilitate a sliding motion: bowling. Accordingly,U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,198 to Famolare describes a bowling shoe with areplaceable tread insert for varying the friction of the shoe sole onthe bowling surface. Famolare '198, however, is distinguished from thepresent invention in that the slide pad in the bowling shoe is not anintegral part of the out-sole. Rather, a primary objective of the soledesign in Famolare '198 is to allow the slide pad to be attached orremoved from the sole depending on the degree of friction sought by thewearer. Consequently, the invention claims a method for attachment andremoval of the sliding pad to the outer sole of the bowling shoe.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,664 to Taylor likewise shows a bowling shoedesigned to allow the foot to slide along the surface of the floor.Taylor '664 differs markedly form the present invention, however, as thenovelty of the Taylor '664 sole is found in the heel design rather thanthe design at the ball of the foot. Taylor '664 presents a heel designwherein the heel of the sliding foot differs from the heel on thenon-sliding foot. The former heel is comprised of inside and outsidesections with different coefficients of friction. In addition, Taylor'664 teaches a sole with a lower co-efficient of friction on the slidingfoot compared to the sole on the non-sliding foot, but Taylor uses adifferent material to reduce friction, namely leather, and shows adifferent manner of attaching the material to the shoe.

[0015] Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to providean athletic shoe sole including an insert having an outwardly disposedsurface with a low coefficient of friction.

[0016] It is another object to provide an athletic shoe sole includingan insert having an outwardly disposed surface with a low coefficient offriction at the ball of the foot.

[0017] It is yet another object to permanently attach said insert withthe low coefficient of friction as an integral part of the out-sole ofthe athletic shoe.

[0018] It is still another object of the invention to facilitate theforward sliding motion of the foot relative to the ground when skipping.

[0019] A further object is to maintain the slipperiness of the solethrough application of an aerosol silicone lubricant and release agent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof when takentogether with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a bottom plan perspective view of the out-sole of theskipping shoe according to the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the out-sole according to thepresent invention showing a condition wherein the low friction insert isseparated from the remainder of the out-sole for purposes ofillustration.

[0023]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the perimeter construction of thelow friction insert as shown in FIG. 2.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of successive placement ofthe feet when skipping wherein the foot in contact with the ground isshown to slide along the surface as the body moves forward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring now by reference numerals and first to FIG. 1 it willbe understood that the athletic shoe 1 shown in the drawings is askipping shoe having a sole and an upper. The following description isapplicable to either the left or the right shoe sole, and the inventioncontemplates the incorporation of the sole into both the left and rightshoe of the pair. The upper 10 may be of a high top or low topconventional design. The sole consists of an out-sole 12 and an insole(obscured in FIG. 1). The out-sole, in contact with the ground when theshoe is worn, is of a basic rubber compound molded to form a continuouselement which serves as the bottom of the shoe from the heel forward tothe toe. In the area distally from the heel to the toes lying generallybeneath the ball of the foot, the out-sole comprises an insert 14 of amaterial having a low coefficient of friction. The insert comprises athermoplastic material having superior abrasion resistance, tensilestrength, energy absorption, and resistance to cracking. A thermoplasticof Ultra High Molecular Weight material, UHMW, represents the idealinsert material. UHMW exhibits excellent anti-adhesion properties aswell as anti-abrasion properties. The material is water repellant,impact resistant, and durable. The insert is permanently attached to theout-sole.

[0026] Trim pieces 16 a, 16 b, 17 a, and 17 b strengthen the compositeout-sole and render it watertight. The trim pieces 16 a and 16 b areintegral parts of the molded rubber out-sole 12, which fold over andcover the periphery of the UHMW insert 14 along its lateral margins.Rubber cement bonds the trim to the UHMW insert 14 (the peripheralconstruction of which is described below). Trim pieces 17 a and 17 b aremolded independently of the out-sole 12, and are affixed to the proximaland distal margins of the UHMW insert 14.

[0027] The toe of the out-sole, in the area between the forward edge ofthe shoe and the forward border of the insert, comprises a brake pad 18.The brake pad 18 is formed by thickening the molded rubber of thecontinuous out-sole 12 in a crescent shape having a depth ofapproximately ¼ inch. Under normal sliding conditions, the toe isslightly elevated and the brake pad 18 will thereby not make contactwith the surface of the ground. If the wearer wishes to stop the slidingmotion, the toe may be lowered causing the brake pad 18 to contact theground, the friction generated thereby causing the wearer to come torest.

[0028]FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the composite out-sole whereinthe low coefficient of friction insert 14 has been detached for purposesof illustration. The continuous out-sole 12 is molded to form a pocket20 in the area corresponding generally to the ball of the foot. Thepocket 20 is bound on four sides by a wall 22. The wall 22 begins at theouter surface of the out-sole 12 and continues inwardly along the insidemargin of the pocket 20. The wall 22 makes a perpendicular juncture at asurface 23 which forms the top margin of the pocket 20. Integral trimpieces 16 a and 16 b are shown in FIG. 2 unfolded along the lateralmargins of the pocket. It is to be understood that the out-sole 12, thepocket 20, the wall 22, the trim pieces 16 a, 16 b, and the top surface23 are a single continuous unit of molded rubber. FIG. 2 further shows,the individual trim pieces 17 a and 17 b detached from the out-sole 12for purposes of illustration.

[0029]FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the peripheral construction ofthe insert 14 comprised of thermoplastic nylon sheets cut to the shapeof the region of the out-sole from the arch of the foot forward to theproximal end of the toes and laterally from the right edge of the shoeto the left edge. Acrylic cement will not bond to the insert material36. To compensate for this characteristic of the material and stillenable attachment of the insert 36 to the continuous out-sole 12 asshown in FIG. 1, it is necessary to build-up the periphery of the insertas follows: A strip of supple leather 30 equal in length to thecircumference of the UHMW insert 36, but greater in width than the sidemargins of the insert 36 is mechanically attached to the UHMW insert 36with machine screws and bolts. The lateral margin 34 and inner surface38 of the UHMW insert 36 are thereby entirely covered in supple leather.The leather extends over the border 35 of the outwardly facing surface39 of the UHMW insert 36 approximately ¼″, or to the extent necessary toprovide a mounting surface for attachment of trim pieces 16 a, 16 b, 17a, and 17 b. The leather 30 provides a subsurface to which a molding 32may be attached along the lateral margin 34 of the UHMW insert 36 usingrubber cement. The molding 32 may be cast from molding rubber of roomtemperature volcanization material, RTV, or comparable molding rubberwhich provides a superior light-weight flexible molding material. Thefully assembled insert 14 as shown in FIG. 3 may thereby be permanentlyattached to the pocket 20 of the out-sole 12 as shown in FIG. 2 to formthe composite sole 1 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0030] The athletic shoe sole construction taught herein is applicableto both the right and left soles. It is to be understood that theconstruction of the pocket 20 and insert 14 for the right foot willcorrespond to the shape of the right foot, and the pocket 20 and insert14 for the left foot will correspond to the shape of the left foot. Aninsole of press-board, foam material or the like may placed inside theshoe above and against the out-sole to provide cushioning to the ball ofthe wearer's foot where the greatest pressure is focused during the actof sliding. The insole may further comprise reinforcement at the arch ofthe foot to increase ankle support by preventing pronation of the ankleas the foot strikes and sides along the ground.

[0031]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the placement of thefeet when skipping. An aerosol silicone lubricant and release agent mybe applied to the exterior surface of the insert to maintain theslipperiness during use. The feet are placed alongside each other in thestarting position 50. A forward step is taken (the left foot initiatingthe step in FIG. 4) followed by a pushing-off and forward placement ofthe lagging foot (shaded feet represent the motion of pushing off). Theforward and upward force exerted by the lagging foot causes the forwardfoot to lift slightly and slide along 52 the ground thereby moving thebody forward. The forward foot remains in contact with the groundthroughout the motion, but does not bear the full force of the person'sweight as it slides, the force of the person's downwardly acting weightbeing directed upwardly by the pushing-off action of the lagging foot.The sliding foot 52, shown as the left foot in FIG. 5, comes momentarilyto rest as the lagging foot transitions to the forward foot. The leftfoot 56, now the lagging foot, repeats the pushing-off action causingthe now forward right foot to lift slightly and slide forward 54. Thisalternating sequence of steps is repeated thereby propelling the body ina forward direction.

[0032] Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certainmodifications of the concept underlying the present invention, variousother embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of theembodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to thoseskilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept.It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. An athletic shoe sole construction comprising: (a) anoutsole of molded rubber comprising an integral pocket, (b) an inserthaving a low coefficient of friction, and having the shape of the leftfoot or right foot, whereby said insert is permanently placed withinsaid pocket to facilitate the sliding of the foot along the ground whenskipping.
 2. An athletic shoe sole as defined in claim 1, wherein saidinsert is comprised of UHMW, or alternatively of a thermoplastic nylonconstruction, said insert being cut to the shape of a pocket within saidout-sole.
 3. An athletic shoe sole as defined in claim 1, wherein saidinsert is wrapped in supple leather, said leather entirely covering oneface and the lateral margin of said insert, and partially covering theopposite face of said insert.
 4. The insert of claim 2, furthercomprising a molding of RTV molding rubber, said molding being attachedcircumferentially to the lateral margins of said leather wrapped insert.5. An athletic shoe sole as defined in claim 1, wherein said out-solefurther comprises integral trim pieces which laterally border theperiphery of said pocket and which fold over and cover the seam at thejuncture of said out-sole and said insert, whereby the composite sole isstrengthened and made watertight.
 6. An athletic shoe sole as defined inclaim 1, wherein said insert is covered by individual pieces of moldingrubber attached at the proximal and distal margins of said insert,whereby the composite sole is strengthened and made watertight.
 7. Theathletic shoe sole of claim 1, wherein said out-sole is a singlecontinuous unit of molded rubber comprising an out-sole, lateral trimpieces, and a pocket, said pocket further comprising an internal wallhaving four sides and terminating in a flat top surface.
 8. The athleticshoe sole of claim 1, wherein said out-sole is comprised of a continuousconstruction from the heel forward to the toes and is of a basic rubbercompound formed from a molded rubber compound, the forward portioncomprising a brake pad formed by increasing the depth of the rubberbeyond the surface of the balance of the sole.